The paper pledged to expose 100 gay people and printed the photographs, names and in some cases home areas, of people it claimed were gay.

Kato was murdered few months later, after he had brought the publishers to court and won the case.

In signing the bill, Museveni said the measure is needed because the West is promoting homosexuality in Africa, rejecting international criticism of the law as interference in Uganda's internal affairs. Museveni accused "arrogant and careless Western groups" of trying to recruit Ugandan children into homosexuality, but he did not name these groups.

According to Parliament, the new legislation aims to protect the traditional family by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex, and the promotion or recognition of such sexual relations in public institutions.

Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, said in a public statement he was "disheartened" by Museveni's decision, which could lead to situations like those that happened in Nazi Germany or during the apartheid.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement, "Now that this law has been enacted, we are beginning an internal review of our relationship with the Government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values".